Syracuse’s five-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday night in Clemson, South Carolina. Clyde Trapp cut around Jesse Edwards with two seconds left for the game-winning layup in the Orange’s 71-70 loss to the Tigers. Next up for Syracuse (13-8, 6-4 Atlantic Coast) is a game against Duke in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, and the Blue Devils (17-3, 7-2) enter as winners of their last two games. Vernon Carey leads Duke with a 17.4 points-per-game average, one of four Blue Devil starters averaging double-digits.

Here’s what The Daily Orange beat writers think will happen on Saturday.

Nick Alvarez (14-7)
I’m Blue (Da ba dee)
Duke 80, Syracuse 68

After finding ways to win games, Syracuse reverted against Clemson, finally finding a way to lose one down the stretch. Now comes Duke, an almost-rivalry for everyone wearing Orange, and a nuisance for those dawned in blue and white. While an upset pick isn’t as far-fetched as it would’ve been a few weeks ago, SU is probably a historic shooting performance away from triggering a court-storming. Not only is this Blue Devils team likely en route to a Final Four, but Clemson’s Tevin Mack showed a template for what Duke’s Vernon Carey can and will do in the Carrier Dome on Saturday night. When we discussed the Orange’s season-long issues at center, I tabbed Carey as the one player who’d exploit it in full. He’s the star power that’ll pack the Dome and the main reason Duke walks away with a win.

Michael McCleary (14-7)
Bedeviled
Syracuse 77, Duke 76

I had been saying all week that if Syracuse rolls into this game with a six-game win streak, it would be hard to pick against them. The Orange went to Clemson, snapped their winning streak and made several mistakes down the stretch of a game that they should have won. But they’re still hard to pick against. SU didn’t have its two best big men on the floor for the final eight minutes of the game, with Marek Dolezaj fouling out and then Bourama Sidibe. Syracuse looked good enough for stretches to justify making this pick. SU at its best is one of the best teams in the ACC. Another win in this storied rivalry will prove it. 

Josh Schafer (14-7)
So, is this a rivalry game?
Duke 78 Syracuse 69

Syracuse was rolling prior to Tuesday night’s loss and probably wouldn’t have had its five-game winning streak ruined had the Orange not been in foul trouble. But Saturday will be a different animal. Duke is the best team Syracuse has played all year, and the efficiency of the Blue Devils will outlast Syracuse. With a short bench, SU learned on Tuesday how foul trouble can put it in an unrecoverable position. The same can be said with SU wearing down against Duke and not having the fresh legs to reach to for a few minutes. The Carrier Dome atmosphere should make this a fun one and it can fall either way, but the more Syracuse plays the more it seems like a good team that has flaws. Teams like Duke exploit teams with flaws, and that’s what may decide Saturday’s game.

Published on January 29, 2020 at 10:20 pm